This book was the first detailed and systematic account of the property and construction sectors of the British economy. Developing out of a materialist theoretical perspective, Dr Smyth provides an alternative explanation of the different characteristics of the two sectors and rejects traditional notions of the 'backwardness' of the construction sector. The specific historical experience of the Second World War and the rebuilding it necessitated, provides the basis of this analysis and it is argued that the particular divergencies of the construction sector stem from periods of wider economic crisis. Similar periods of crisis have shaped the property sector which, dependent upon the complex relationship between ground rent, the value of the building and building rent, cannot be understood in terms of 'urban rent'. Property companies and the construction industry in Britain challenges both established and radical thinking and its historical account of the development, management and production of the built environment in the years since 1939 addresses some of the central concerns of human geography today.

This scholarly and well-researched study of the building industry documents the interplay of new materials and technologies, costs and the changing social and economic forces that affected the decision-making about our built environment over the last two centuries. The author provides a succinct and readable survey of the growth and development of British building which will be of interest to all building specialists and those training for a career in the construction industry.

This is a critical and descriptive analysis of the UK construction industry based on up-to-date statistics. The emphasis is on the industry as a whole, including its associated professions, rather than on individual firms or projects. Dr Hillebrandt examines the structure and resources of the industry, the demands made on it and its responses. A concise and comprehensive picture of the industry is given which will enable readers to understand what it does, how it works and how it is likely to develop.

Powell introduces and describes two centuries of building activity and the building industry, addressing such questions as why and what was built, who decided to build, and how they did so.

The book explains why the real estate and construction industries are organised in the ways they are and then relates those characteristics to long-term market behaviour. It covers market dynamics - supply and demand; the interaction of property development and construction – and examines institutions and market structures. Real estate development and construction tend to be separate subjects in the literature. But construction is an inevitable part of any property development process and so has a major influence on the institutional structure of development. Markets & Institutions in Real Estate & Construction argues that these structures are best explained as a series of modern economic theories, based on competition and current production technologies. offers focus and breadth, and deal with controversial debates economic arguments made accessible through a non-technical writing style presents long-run international comparison of property market behaviour reflects internationalisation of property and construction markets

This basic text offers a comprehensive and fundamental description of the construction industry and the construction process, citing examples from several countries at various stages of development. It considers the features of the industry, describes factors influencing the demand for, and supply of construction, problems facing the industry and ways of planning for and managing its development.The book should be a basic source of information on the construction industry for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in architecture, construction management, quantity surveying, related engineering fields and estate management. It should also be of relevance to administrators of the construction industry.